The format of the episode was awesome. Loved Dr. Nolan and House sessions. Loved the very teeny weeny bit of Wilson. Better than nothing. Hated the ending, which bordered on the ridiculous as one reviewer pointed out.

Has anyone looked at the inHouse iPod app for this? There's an interview with David Foster which is very interesting. One thing he mentions is that they wrote it such that House is daydreaming while he's looking around Nolan's office. He looks at the various items in the office and they stick in his head while he recalls the stories. So in each of the six acts, there is one of the items from Nolan's office making an appearance elsewhere in the story. He says two or three are easy, but no one will get all six. Heh. I've watched twice from interest/love. Now I might take one watch just to meet that challenge.

Watched the epi a little late after you, as usual. Yesterday was House season 5 finale on French TV, followed By baggage, not a happy evening... But Baggage was really good. Ditto to all you've said. Both actors were perfect, HL'portraying of House cold desperation made me shiver, because for the first time I felt him stripped of hope. Wilson told him last year (The Itch) "you're afraid if it does not work with her, then there is no one else outside for you". I am not literally speaking of Cuddy, but I think House is at this point : there is no one outside for him, and for the first time he has admitted he wants someone, then left abruptly, as if it was the final string on his therapy. I can't pity him, because obviously he doesn't want to ; he still sees him as the strong guy who can take everything because he deserves it ; this is heartwrenching. I likes ALvie, and the fact that he was distracting House who obviously cares about him. He was having fun with him. Oh, and did you notice that Alvie is the only human being (with House's mother) that we have seen hugging House twice? And I liked the fact that, contrary to spoilers, House did not kick Alvie out, but that Alvie left on his own. I like this side of House, that he deeply cares about the (few) people he lets in. This is how I understand the book, too, fondness for someone he knows for years, and for who he knows this gift would be appreciated. I don't think Wilson acted badly. He has been taking care of House and been his roommate for months, and God knows it is probably a challenge. He does not see him acting differently, House has got drunk (or worse) for years, he tried to be helping with a new place, and he is trying to have a life on his own. No need for Wilson hate here. And finally, how hot did HL look yesterday!! On purpose or not, his shape has been strikingly improving since Broken (shallow, isn't it?) Looking for a sad, sad finale, I 'm afraid. Wish I could do something to help, which is probably what the writers are aiming us to feel.

Thanks, Boffle, for giving me an excellent reason to watch this episode one more time. I love it so much, but words fail me to express why exactly. Perhaps later.

If House is dissatisfied with how slow his progress is in normal therapy, he should try psychedelic psychotherapy. Using psychedelic compounds, vastly accelerated growth is possible as one identifies and resolves underlying conflicts. The idea would even appeal to House cause he's a drug addict.

You're right,they seem to meet quite a lot recently..and that's even weirder.

The episode was so full of awesome, that it took me (a self proclaimed expert on House's apartment :wink: ) until re-watch number 3 to go WTF at Alvie claiming he got in through the unlocked bathroom window. House's apartment doesn't have a bathroom window. :huh?: (sulking now)

Alvie is not a reliable narrator. Must have been an unlocked kitchen (or other) window. :-)

I think he meant the bedroom window.

I am also inclined to believe that it was Lucas who hurt him with his boot. I remember the old saying "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer". It would make sense that House would keep civil contact with Lucas, not because he is befriending him, but to keep a barometer on the progress of his relationship with Cuddy. Also, House's giving Cuddy her gr-grand's textbook (sorry if this is spoil free-I am blanking it) could be an indication of his knowledge, and of his concession to Lucas.

I said the thing about Lucas being the one in the fight completely in jest. I agree with the "keeping enemies close" aspect of this analysis, but I'm pretty sure that House would remember a fight with Lucas. He told Nolan that he did not recall the fight. House is a notoriously unreliable narrator, but that's a pretty major inconsistency in his account. Lucas hasn't been portrayed as violent. Yeah, Lucas doesn't fight. He sets booby traps.